Histopathology of plaque rupture

Plaque disruption occurs during the development of atherosclerotic lesions. During certain circumstances it may result in thrombosis and subsequent development of acute coronary syndromes. Several characteristics of the plaque appear to be associated with plaque disruption, including a large lipid rich core, superficial plaque inflammation, and a thin fibrous cap. The importance of these and other plaque components are discussed in this article.